That's what really hit me last week during International Convention. Alpha Gam provides opportunity to really get to know women of all ages, and you already have something in common to start you off. Not many girls I know are friends with women 10, 30, or even 50 years older than they are. And I, and every other Alpha Gamma Delta, have the chance to make those friendships. Some of the most meaningful relationships I have had in my life have been with non-family members who have significantly more life experience than I, and I don't think enough people have friendships like that. At International Convention, I ate dinner with the International Council, sang songs with women from all over the world, and even got to share my experiences with a few collegians. It was so neat to get to know them and their stories. The overwhelming sense of acceptance and sisterhood felt just like the very first time I attended an Alpha Gamma Delta event as a college freshman. I made some really great connections over the course of the week, including getting reacquainted with a few women from my own area. While I love my cosplay friends, sorority sisters are totally different, and it will be great to have women like that in my life again.
The whole point of going in the first place was that I got to sing! Aside from a few mishaps, everything went pretty smoothly. Supposedly someone filmed my songs during Feast of Roses, and I'll post the video as soon as I've got it! Getting to perform for 600 of my sisters really reminded me of how much I love to sing, and how decent I actually am at it! I had forgotten how good singing can make me feel about myself, and I never want to forget that again. Bringing half of International Council to tears just with a song was a really powerful moment. So if you know of any classical or musical theatre gigs in Nashville, send them my way!
I want to say thank you again to the ladies of Alpha Gamma Delta, and especially to the International Council, for welcoming me as the weekend's soloist. It was an amazing experience to participate in Convention at all, let alone the excitement of the Ritual. If you are inclined to ask me back in 2014, I would be honored to say yes.
I'm on Earth Station One again this week! This time around I'm featured in The Geek Seat. Go hear my geeky answers by clicking the image!
Some of you who didn't know me in college might not know that I'm in a sorority. Yes, even geek girls can join sororities. I'm a member of Alpha Gamma Delta, and joining was probably the best decision I made in college. I was pretty shy my freshman year, and I likely wouldn't have left my dorm room a whole lot without Alpha Gam there to get me out of my shell. A lot of you might think of that as "buying your friends," and that's fine. All that means is you don't actually understand what dues are used for, and I will not address that argument here. While it's not a huge part of my life anymore, I still occasionally attend alumnae dinners and parties, and just two weeks ago had a beach day with some of my sisters. Greek life helped teach me how to party, too, not gonna lie, which has come in super handy now that I attend conventions regularly. I even had to teach a few of my geek friends how to play beer pong back in March. (I know, right?!) I served as Ritual Coordinator and Vice President Scholarship while at my university, and those positions taught me a lot about respect and leadership; lessons that still prove valuable today.
In two weeks I'll be attending Alpha Gam's International Convention in St. Louis. International Convention is held in a different location every two years, and alumnae and collegiate members of the fraternity come together for training and sisterhood. I've always wanted to go but because of money and scheduling have never before had the opportunity. I've been asked to be the soloist for all ritual events over the course of the weekend. While some of our ritual is secret, some isn't, and most of it involves music. The pieces are beautiful and heartfelt, and they really remind me of college friendships. I'm very excited and deeply honored to have the opportunity to not only sing these songs again, but to sing them for so many of my Alpha Gam sisters. It's going to be an amazing opportunity.
If you're in college now, or will be soon, I encourage you to consider making Greek Life part of your experience. It's not for everybody, and each campus has a different atmosphere, but you might be surprised. I'd never considered going Greek before university, and now I can't imagine my collegiate experience any other way.
Lots of Alpha Gams blog - check them out here at the Alpha Gama Delta Blog Network!
